Dotterel Technologies

Dotterel Technologies, an Auckland-based company, provides advanced audio technology for capturing clear sound in high-noise environments where recording was previously impractical. The company originated from the Callaghan C-Prize innovation competition in 2015, which challenged participants to solve problems for drones in the screen industry. A group including brothers Matt Rowe, Seamus Rowe, and Shaun Pentecost, alongside Shaun Edlin, chose to tackle the difficult issue of drone noise, laying the groundwork for the company. Several founders, including Matt Rowe, previously worked at the biofuel startup LanzaTech, bringing startup experience to the new venture.

Initially focused on developing noise-reducing propeller shrouds and quieter propellers for UAVs, Dotterel demonstrated significant noise reduction, which also enhanced drone safety. This early work in aero-acoustics evolved into creating sophisticated microphone payloads. The company has since expanded its target markets beyond cinematography to include public safety, security, and industrial applications. Dotterel's business model involves both customizing technology for specific UAV platforms and releasing products that integrate with off-the-shelf drones, as well as selling hardware directly and through a global network of resellers. The company has secured a total of $4.26 million in funding over five rounds from investors such as Techstars, Icehouse Ventures, and Drone Fund.

The flagship product is the Konos microphone, an array of 80 digital MEMS microphones designed to capture high-fidelity audio from a distance with exceptional clarity. Its key feature is adjustable directivity, offering narrow, mid-range, and wide (180°) pickup patterns that function like multiple microphones in one. The Konos system can perform real-time noise filtering, distinguishing target audio from unwanted background noise like machinery or weather. It provides multiple simultaneous outputs, allowing sound engineers to capture both the focused, noise-filtered audio and the ambient environmental sound as distinct channels for greater flexibility in post-production. This capability serves clients in the entertainment industry, including US and UK studios, as well as industrial sectors where it can improve safety and communication on factory floors or for emergency response vehicles.

Keywords: audio capture, noise reduction, microphone array, drone acoustics, sound technology, aeroacoustics, Konos microphone, public safety audio, entertainment audio, industrial audio, MEMS microphone, audio filtering, UAV payload, sound recording, directional microphone, audio engineering, two-way communication drone, field recording, cinematic audio, acoustic sensor